If I were going to restructure this (in a hurry before it dies), I would have Rosie host. No singing or dancing. I would tell her to work on her demeanor. She should be relaxed (which may be impossible) classy mostly, and casually goofy occasionally. No "hard sells."
The "door idea" might have worked, but not with celebrities clomping their way through it, plugging their latest CDs or vamping like a musical Vanna White.
I would pepper the stage with windows and doors, like an advent calendar or "Miss O'Donnell's Neighborhood." Then I would hire a cast of young, up-and-coming comics or improv actors. Let them pop through the window and add jokes or adlibs, ala Laugh-In.
Rosie can interact with them.
Each week, have a theme. '50s sock hop, '60 groovy party, '40s USO Show, '20s speak-easy... and modify the set very slightly to "dress" for the occasion.
Let the artists that come on, like Morrisette, Krakowski, Connick, Baldwin, etc. do songs and sketches that tie into that theme. They could all sing '20s songs, for instance, even if they're remixed or re-imagined for a new audience. Tie it all together.
Using the same lineup last night assuming it's a '20s show:
Those tapping twins come on and do a routine to a remix of "Fascinatin' Rhythm."
Krakowski sings "Nowadays" from Chicago.
Morrisette sings Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do?"
Baldwin does a spoof of James Cagney gangster movies.
Those acrobats do their antics to the music of the Charleston.
Connick sings "Bye-bye Blackbird."
Liza does the finale of "All That Jazz" with a full ensemble of vampy dancers.
The big door is used as a speak-easy entrance, with Rosie letting in the guests if they know the password to get in.
She introduces the guests' numbers with class, fun, a little joke MAYBE, and never ever tries to upstage them.
At one point, to mix things up, the entire theatre could be "raided" by a gang of cops who end up doing a big tap number.
One major lesson Rosie needs to learn from the queen of old variety stars Carol Burnett. She said, "Let your supporting cast do the majority of the work. Trust them, and rely on them. If you think it's 'your show,' you'll never get through it, and you'll never last."
Wise words from the legend herself.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 11/27/08 at 12:06 PM
